Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-09-30, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1987 Sometimes I have difficulty accepting the notion that I am merely a trustee of something (this newspaper) that everyone in the community owns. That notion is much in evidence and perpetuated by Signal -Star Publisher Bob Shrier. And he is probably right. Everyone should firmly believe that this is their newspaper and we should be toiling on your behalf, in most cases, to ensure that the communtiy remains a progressive and viable one. This week was of particular significance to Signal -Star Publishing and its employees, as it marked the final week of publication for the paper under the direction of Bob and Jo Shrier. The Shriers purchased the newspaper here in 1965 from Geroge and Gene Ellis and armed with dreams, visions, determina- tion and ambition, they turned that one newspaper into a respected and pro- gressive publishing company. DAVE SYKES Today, Signal -Star Publishing owns and operates eight community newspapers, a regional newsmagazine and has a thriv- ing printing, mailing and bindery division. As of October 1, the company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of St. Catharine Standard Limited, owned by Henry Burgoyne. While we may be saying farewell to one aspect of our rich history . we also welcome the prospects for the future under new 'ownership. The past has been exciting and filled with great memories but we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with a new employer. For many of us working at Signal -Star, and for many in the community, the Shrier name will be synonymous with the publication of the newspaper. Under their leadership, the paper"bas been a vibrant part of the community and the company has been one of the most progressive in the industry. The Shriers have done much for the publishing industry in general and have worked on the executive and served as presidents of both the Ontario and Cana- dian Community Newspaper Associations. Bob Shrier has had a love affair with newspapers since he began selling adver- tising space as a teenager for Thompson newspapers. By the time he was 18, he knew he wanted to own his own newspapers and his energies were always directed towards that goal. That dream became a scary reality when he answered a classified ad about a com- munity newspaper in Goderich. Anyone who is familiar with Bob's radio program and his book, 'Let's Think for a Minute, know that he advocates the benefits of a positive mental approach. What you see in your mind, you can hold in your hand," is a popular phrase of Bob's that typifies the visionary thought process he has attempted to in- still in all of us. We all have the potential for greatness and by tapping our resources, we have the potential to achieve that which we dare to dream and think about. I have been around this particular business for almost 13 years and throughout the 22 -year tenure of the Shriers, and have been given the oppor- tunity to expand, to grow as an employee and a person and the opportunity to err and pick myself up and try again. There is so much 1 have learned here about self-respect, about conducting business with integrity and about respec- ting the other person and their point of view. Bob and Jo Shrier have left this coni- pany with a rich legacy. We are left with a legacy of integrity, fairness, hard work and a vision of the future. We have been left with lofty aspirations and the realiza- tion that we can achieve whatever we dare to dream. Bob dared to dream. Now it's our turn. THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 the Gderic SIGNAL -STAR 0 hA 8T 46.1. ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA (CYcuieuon Class 3500-4500( CCNA getter Newspaper Compenuon 1 984 P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH, ONT. N7A 4B6 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1848 and published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA, Subscrip- tions payable in advance 522.00, [Senior Citizens 519.00 privilege card number required) in Canada, 560.00 to U.S.A., 560.00 to all other countries, Single copies 60'. Display, National and Classified advertising rates available on re- quest. Please ask for Rate Card No. 16 effective October 1, 1985. Adviertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with the reasonable allowance for signature,•will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal - Star is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduc- ing purposes. General Manager Editor Advertising Manager SHiRLEY J, 'KELLER DAVE SYKES DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICE...please phone (519)524-2614 Second class C�� mail registration Member: number 0716 CTI` N II (44 A: r n� r' r+^ j-'1 11,11 (;r,;\ l 1 P r� 1 [n ^! I % �.,,� nille- 1 1 ,, r tl (71'/(Y7/,' (nom-. ,'� t"l (-711 ` I Tradition continues The community newspaper is a living thing. It is the pulsebeat of the town and its en- virons; itis the community's eyes and ears, its feet and legs; it is the mind and heart of the Community, its conscience too. To own a newspaper is a unique responsibility because newspaper ownership implies more than doing business and showing a profit - though that is an essential part of it. To own a newspaper means to be willing to allow the newspaper to breathe freely the fresh air of integrity and honesty and fair play. It means having the courage to stand firmly resolved on the side of right, even when the bottom line would suffer less if you rode the fence. During the Shrier years at The Goderich Signal -Star, the emphasis was always on com- munity betterment. R.G.Shrier knew that in a healthy community, the business, commer- cial and industrial segments must mesh together and work like a well-oiled machine. There must be no hint of discord but always, always, a united face to the public through the _ newspaper. Shrier believed the newspaper is often the guage used by outsiders to measure the health and prosperity of a community, and he diligently pursued his goal to make The Goderich Signal -Star an accurate yardstick of life in The Prettiest Town in Canada. While there were those who didn't understand the role of the newspaper and the zeal of the publisher to fulfill that role, there were many others who accepted the fact that prosperity can be contagious in a community that is pulling together as one strong, vibrant unit. As The Signal -Star flourished, so did the entire community. By supporting the newspaper, the com- munity had helped to build its own fine reputation; ensured its own solid future. News -wise, R.G.Shrier and his wife Jo wanted The Goderich Signal -Star to be a complete chronical of happenings from week to week, without necessarily mirroring the weaknesses and the personal miseries of individuals. It was a deliberate departure from the hard-nosed news that some people thought a newspaper should print, but the Shriersdid not deviate from their decision. In a world filled with heartache, The Goderich Signal -Star to this day sidesteps the stories that highlight human error and concerns itself primarily with issue - oriented reporting and news of a positive nature. The Goderich Signal -Star is a well-respected citizen in Goderich and area. It is a good friend that is welcome in 5,000 homes every week, thoroughly trusted to bring the news truthfully in a dignified manner. Though the Shriers have sold the business and new owners are taking up the challenge on October 1, the people of Goderich and area have every reason to believe the quality of their newspaper will not diminish. The St. Catharines Standard group is pledged to the same kind of excellence expected by Signal -Star readers, and Henry Burgoyne and his associates have shown this intent by leaving veteran local people in full and complete charge of their new acquisition. The staff at this newspaper take this opportunity on behalf of all our customers to say "thank you" to the Shriers who have provided such reliable leadership through their tenure at The Goderich Signal -Star. You have become our friends and you will remain so in the years ahead. Also today, the Signal -Star staff as well as the entire community look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with the new owners. May the rich tradition of openness and goodwill prevail as a two-way street, with newspaper and community functioning as one for the good of all. The community newspaper is a living thing. Long live The Goderich Signal -Star. By Shirley J. Keller General Manager, The Goderieh Signal -Star /0?./pi. ':i -.--:-.---2f4.-. / / 1i` _-741,..,---..-"*.:..- �"a.�•_----b:=--_ z- ur;vr-ie IS AN' THE REST OF YOU FiNT) A S'poT Ort THE BENGN U15 'LL BE /N 7cdc// .1761.*.Z7TS-17.'.1'4.1177.11 Empty coal bins cause residents to worry about making it through winter 25 YEARS AGO October 4, 1962: Since September 1961, nearly a half million tons of salt have been shipped from the Sifto Salt Mine aboard the fleet of lake freighters arriving steadily at the loading dock. The latest salt boat to arrive was the Motor Vessel Metis, September 27, to pick up her usual load of 10,000 tons. Later this month, one of the largest vessels on the lakes, the SS R. Bruce Angus, is expected to reach the Sifto landing area. The Angus is 620 feet in length and previously had been seen off the Goderich Harbour acting as an ice -breaker for the two ice -bound freighters. A more regular visitor, the SS Leadale, made her ninth trip of the current season, arriving late Monday night. The Leadale carries 11,500 tons of salt. Unemployment statistivs of the Goderich office of the National Employment Service reveal a comparitively rosy picture of economic conditions throughout Huron County. Only 23 persons throughout the county are .listed as seeking employment and many of these are of a temporary nature, the Goderich office reported. At the end of September, a year, ago, there was a total of. 274 seeking employment which was 43 more than at the present time. It is the lowest number of listed unemployment in some years and, in comparison with most parts of Ontario, is a negligible figure, the Goderich office of National Service stated. A gaping hole 30 by 40 feet marks the col - LOOKING BACK lapse of the North Harbour Road adjacent to the area where the Ontario Marine and Dredging Co. are conducting dredging operations. The cave-in occured Wednes- day night of last week, necessitating the hurried construction of a temporary detour along the railway tracks. 50 YEARS AGO October 6, 1937: The Huron seats have again returned the Liberal candidates though with smaller ma- jorities than in 1934. In the south riding, Ballantyne leads Taylor (Conservative) by 1299 and in Huron -Bruce, Charles A. Robert- son goes back for his fourth term with a ma- jority of 3314 over Logan (Conservative). Dr. Moir, independent candidate in Huron, polled 953 votes. ° The independent can- didates in the north riding did not do so well, Thomson having 482 and McLean with 222. The town of Goderich returned to its oldtime Conservative allegiance but with only the narrow margin of 30 votes. After an opening half of scoreless soccer in the initial game of the inter -collegiate schedule of this district, Mitchell scored from a penalty shot to defeat the Goderich Collegians 1-0 at Agricultural 'Park on Thursday last. 70 YEARS AGO October 4, 1917: The Goderich Industrial Exhibition of 1917 will be remembered as one of the most remembered and at the same time one of the most disappointing occasions in .the history of the Exhibition. Thursday was the "big day" and one of the largest crowds ever assembled on the grounds had gathered in the afternoon. The grandstand was filled and the program just nicely got started when a downpour of rain came and put a stop to the proceedings. The crowd made for shelter in the, main hall, the poultry house and any other place that of- fered protection, hoping that the rain would soon pass over but it kept on and the pro- gram had to be abandoned for the afternoon. The coal situation is not clearing up very fast and many people in' town are beginning to be anxious , about meeting the ap- proaching cold weather with empty coal bins. A few ears of the balck diamonds have reached town but nowhere nearly enough to supply the demand. Mayor Mannings has been trying to find some way out of the dif- ficulty but has been unable to do very much beyond communicating with the Dominion Fuel Controller and placing before him an account of the local needs. On the whole, the outlook is not very promising but the pro- bability is that we shall in some way or other be able to worry through the winter without being frozen. Who says governments don't act pro- inptly to correct inequitable situations? Not me. It was only Monday that the media broke the "astounding," story that the rich not only get richer, they get healthier too. A panel of health experts, who undnubtably got semi -wealthy in the process, had compiled a report indicating among other things that well-off men can expect to enjoy 14 more years free of disability than their impoverished counterparts. "Poverty subjects people to decreased self-esteem and fewer health choices, which combine with the adverse en- vironmental factors, to which the poor are subject, to impair health," says the report, Health for All Ontario. In other words, steak and potatoes are better for your health than macaroni and cheese. Jeez! Who'da thunk it? At any rate, fear not, for the Ontario' government has responded immediately. The very next day, it was announced that the province's minimum wage will rise by 20 cents, all the way to the lofty height of $4.55 per hour. This display of largesse should effectively eliminate poverty among the working classes? Considering, that anybody making minimum wage, and working 40 hours would rake in a gross paycheque of $182 per week, it would take some nerve for anyone to claim they were poor, eh? Seriously, the rich probably spend that much on toothpicks. Still, in a society based on semi -free enterprise, 1 supose we shouldn't really loc.: to the government to eliminate poverty. We all have to go out and find much better paying jobs, if we want to be as healthy as the wealthy. Since it will not be easy to find lobs which would catapult one immeditely from the minimun wage level, to the champagne and caviar set, we'll have to look for those litte-advertised, yet ex- tremely high -paying positions. One job opportunity I'm personally con- sidering is the position of King of France. No, seriously – the job is open. Seems the country is considering i restoring the monarchy, as dispensed with about a century ago. While there are plenty of people, in- cluding an American accountant and a Lebanese sailor, claiming to be legitimate heirs to the french throne, I figure – what with all the promiscuity that went on in the past 100 year or so – I've got as good a shot as anybody. I hear the pay is great, but the hours suck. If royalty is not your thing, but you still want a high-profile position, you might from this angle Patrick Paftis consider becoming Brian Mulroney's shoe -shine boy. But, don't let him sucker you into a salaried position. Demand that be pay you by the shoe. You can also dou- ble your profits in this endeavor by freelancing for Imelda Marcos. Another sure ticket to instant riches is to submit your application for the posi- tion of head of the PTL Club ministry, or any other television evangelism group. You might even do well to create your own ministry. Try the old honesty ap- proach and name your organization the BSFJ (Blood -Suckers for .Jesus) Club and tell people all their contributions will go toward the FTMW (Fund to Thicken the Minister's Wallet). IV If none of the above ideas tickle your fancy – don't despair. There are many more ways you can become one of the roubust rich. Come up with your own. Better yet, see if you can land a patronage appointment. on one of the committees which write these astoun- dingly revealing reports, such as Health for All Ontario. Maybe you can head up a Royal Commission to investigate whether or not the little light really does go nut when you close the refrigerator door. It's a living. 0